Generation of Negative Air Ions by Ultraviolet Radiation from a Germicidal Lamp

Abstract

Problems of air pollution have come to draw public attention of late. Concerning them, there have been many reports that negative air ions, which are negatively charged oxygen, water vapor or other fine particles, produce beneficical effects physiologically. When negative ions in air are reduced by air pollution, various ill effects are caused. In such cases, artificially produced negative ions are found useful.The photoelectric threshold for gold is less than the energy of 2537 Å radiation emitted from a germicidal lamp. Thus from the metal, negative air ions can be produced photoelectrically.Both forward and backward photoemissions from a vacuum-deposited Au film under ultraviolet radiation of a germicidal lamp gave the maximum yield at about 60 Å thickness. Further, the amount of air moved past the generator, the construction of the generator and the strength of electric field were determined experimeutally.Relatively simple in construction this generator can be used to destroy bacteria and viruses in the air as well as generate ions.